Black/African American Heritage & Awareness Events

What is the Black Power Rally?

The Black Power Rally is an annual event led by MSU’s Black Student Alliance (BSA) who work closely with their adviser from OCAT. When Stokely Carmichael coined the term black power, it was used as a force to empower and unify blacks while creating a strong racial identity. The Black Power Rally (BPR) has become a tradition in the black community at Michigan State University since the early beginnings of the Black Student Alliance, circa 1969. Every year students involved with the Black Student Alliance come together with a sense of stern consciousness and urgency in concern of the state of black America. Not only is the rally an arena to spread consciousness, it is a celebration of blackness. Since the start of the BPR, black figures from all over the country have participated in this event including, Dick Gregory, Sister Souljah, Dead Prez, and Jeff Johnson.